Process for continuous treatment of webs with hot liquids

ABSTRACT

A process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of webs of textile materials or similar materials in hot liquids, wherein the web and the liquid travel at equal speeds during the treatment with the web floating in the liquid, and wherein the ratio by weight of liquid to the web is between about 10 : 1 and 50 : 1, the main features being the introduction of the web into the treatment liquid in irregular, preferably crimped shape, and not in pleated shape, through a port of larger width than the width of the treatment path and at a higher speed than the one at which web and treatment liquid travel during the treatment proper, thereby causing a banking up of the liquid and the web therein, to a thicker sheet, and further subjecting the surface of the web in all its parts to convective or turbulent currents effected in the treatment liquid to bring about a change of shape in said surface parts of the web.

States Patent 1191 Meier-WindhorSt PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF WEBS WITI-I IIOT LIQUIDS [76] Inventor: Christian August Meier-Windhorst,

uber I-Iamburg-Harburg, 2101 Lindhorst, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,362

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 8, 1971 Germany 2160799 [52] US. Cl 8/151, 8/158, 68/181 R [51] Int. Cl. B05! 3/04, B050 3/176 [58] Field of Search 8/151, 151.2, 158; 68/355, 68/38, 43,51, 53, 181 R, 184

[11] v 3,849,068 1451 Nov. 19, 1974 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard [5 7] 1 ABSTRACT A process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of webs of textile materials or similar materials in hot liquids, wherein the web and the liquid travel at equal speeds during the treatment with the web floating in the liquid, and wherein the ratio by weight of liquid to the web is between about 10 1 and 50 l, the main features being the introduction of the web into the treatment liquid in irregular, preferably crimped shape, and not in pleated shape, through a port of larger width than the width of the treatment path and at a higher speed than the one at which web and treatment liquid travel during the treatment proper, thereby causing a banking up of the liquid and the web therein, to a thicker sheet, and further subjecting the surface of the web in all its parts to convective or turbulent currents effected in the treatment liquid to bring about a change of shape in said surface parts of the web.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEL [10V 1 9|974 SHEET 10F 2 PATENTE r-anv 1 91974 SHEET 2 BF 2 The present invention relates to the continuous treatment of textile webs or webs of similar materials with hot liquids, preferably on a path of wide dimensions, wherein the liquid and the web under treatment move at equal speeds. The ratio of the liquid and the web under treatment is from about :1 to 50:1 by weight, and the web is floating in the liquid.

The treatment of the web concerns mostly a cleaning treatment, with chemicals effecting an improvement or refinement of the web material, treatment with dyestuffs and the like. For example, cleaning may take place in aqueous cleansing liquids, liquids for de-sizing, boiling and/or bleaching, dyeing, after-treatment after dyeing or printing, or for the finishing of textiles. The process is especially applicable for treatments where due to the long action, a considerable depletion of the effective agent from the liquid is likely to take place, or the treatment liquid becomes exhausted. Other applications relate to liquid treatments in which the time of treatment is shortened by the use of elevated temperatures and/or increased currents, for example, turbulence in the liquid acting on the web and the like.

The process is further applicable for a treatment with a warm liquid as such, e.g., for development of the structure (bulk development) of textile webs, such as texturized fibers or yarns, or for liquid treatment in so]- vents, such as hydrocarbons, for the removal of spinning oils, sizings and the like, or a combination of treatment with liquids as mentioned above. One preferred application is for light-weight to medium-heavy weight I textile structures, e.g., about 50 to 300 g/m wherein treatment liquid and web to be treated, after introduction into the treatment also move at equal speeds, which are, however, reduced in comparison to the initial speed of the web.

. A device has already been proposed for the use of the new continuous treatment of webs in hot liquids for improving textiles of specific weight of 100 250 g/m such as normal fabrics and knitted goods, in paths of wide dimensions for the webs in the treatment liquid wherein the webs were to be arranged in orderly pleats or loops. It was already found that for this type of conducting, the web in the treatment liquid should be limited to cases, in which the treatment liquid was applied to the textile in a first impregnating stage where the textile was conducted over a wide path in a smooth manner. Extensive studies have confirmed the fact that with such a web arranged in substantially orderly manner, folded or pleated, it is mainly after-treatments with hot liquids which can be carried out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for bringing about an even effect of the treatment over the entire area ofthe web, in spite of the fact that an orderly arrangement of the web was aban doned. The even effect is also achieved when treatments are applied, such as the continuous dyeing of textile webs, where the highest requirements such as uniform treatment action, dye-stuff transfer, and dyestuff incorporation beginning from the first contact of the textile web with the hot treatment liquid are required.

It is another objectof the invention to introduce the web to be treated into a liquid sheet which is banked up by a strongly reduced speed of movement compared to the speed of introduction. One fifth of the original speed or even less in common in these cases.

Considerable advantages are obtained by combining a continuous travel of the web and treatment liquid, and by accurately controlling the effects of the treatment agents by and through the hot treatment liquids. To obtain a complete uniform dyeing of continuously travelling piece goods, two prerequisites have to be fulfilled at the same time.

First of all, when the web is introduced into the treatment liquid and it banks up into a multiple sheet thickness, the formation of lasting structural changes, such as loops, folds or zig-zag pleats must be prevented. The web must, however, pass through the treatment irregularly, a curly or crimped shape, preferably in combination with convective and turbulent currents acting through the treatment liquid onto the surface of the web so that all parts of the web surface are subjected to shape-changing motions. Only when the web is introduced into the treatment liquid in a crimped manner, with a constant directed change of shape of all surface, parts, will the uneven dye effect become a completely uniform, and smooth dye effect in the application of the process to continuous dyeing be produced.

It is also necessary to maintain a desired ratio of the weights of the treatment liquid to the textile web, of about 10:1 to about 50:1. A uniform distribution must be observed both as to the depth of the layer of the liquid and to the direction of travel of the treatment liquid.

In the process of the present invention for liquid treatments, e.g., chemicals, desirable results can be obtained when, in addition to the proper distribution of the textile web in the treatment liquid, and the shaping combined with the convective and turbulent current action of the treatment liquid onto the web, that care is taken to provide treatment over not only the entire width of the path, but also over the depth or thickness, now multiplied, of the liquid sheet.

A very important feature is the introduction of the web to be treated. According to the invention, the introduction is brought about irregularly, and the distribution of the web in the banked liquid during the common admission into the treatment may be carried out advantageously over the entire width through funnelshaped enlarged port at the inlet adapted to the desired thickness of the liquid sheet in each case. Adjustment takes place automatically with the enlarged port being completely filled with treatment liquid. In order to aid the introduction of the web into the treatment liquid, it is possible to use an additional quantity of treatment liquid of the same composition, and the same physical characteristics as the treatment liquid freshly admitted. The additional liquid circulates only in the zone of admission and the weight ratio of liquid to web is proportionately increased only at the admission zone.

In order to maintain the web in a constant shapechanging motion, mechanical or hydrodynamic means are provided to perform intermittent kneading or rolling movements on the web during the treatment. During this action an even distribution of treatment liquid and textile web corresponding to the desired weight ratio must be maintained or, restored if necessary.

Similar measures, such as equalizing the concentration of the treatment liquid over the depth and thickness of the liquid should be combined with the equalization of the concentration of treatment agent over the width of the path traveled'by the web. To secure equal concentrations near the edges of the web, partial quantities of treatment liquid taken from those regions should be added, preferably from both sides, to the liquid in the path of the web, such as from above and below when the liquid travels horizontally.

In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the sheet of the mixture of treatment liquid and textile goods should be steadily or gradually increased, either from the start, or in vthe later course of the process as the concentration of the treatment agents decreases (or their exhaustion increases). The speed of the flow should also be made to drop. This will shorten the entire process to provide an added advantage.

An apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention may comprise a channel for the flow of the treatment liquid. The web is introduced and travels through in a crimped form. The channel is equipped with means for bringing about movements to change the shape of the web. The channel may have the same cross-section throughout the length of treatment, but in preferred embodiment of the invention, the crosssection of the channel may increase in the direction of the travel of the web and the flow of the treatment agents.

At the inlet of the channel, there is an enlarged intake to receive the web at excess speed, to cause an irregular introduction of the web and the treatment liquid hydrodynamically, and automatically. The treatment liquid is conveyed into the channel at the start of the operation by distributing means, circulating means and means for adding fresh liquid. These devices are arranged in front of the funnel-shaped channel enlargement and laterally of the web. In the funnel-shaped enlargement, hydrodynamically acting circulating devices may be arranged for improving the admission of the liquid.

In order to cause shape-changing movements of the web, mechanical impellers have proved to be very effective, when provided with double bearings for vertical and tilting movements. They may act on the liquid causing a simultaneous movement with the web, or conveying or influencing the movement of the liquid. Instead of mechanical means, hydrodynamical impellers may, of course, be used.

In the accompanying drawings, an example of the apparatus according to the invention is schematically illustrated. It should however be understood that many modifications of the device could be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements through the several views:

FIG. 1 shows the front part of an apparatus with a channel for receiving the treatment liquid, where the cross-section of the channel remains the same throughout;

FIG. 2 shows the rear part of the apparatus, in which the channel has increasing cross-sections;

FIG. 3 illustrates the travel of the web and the treatment liquid in a somewhat modified embodiment of the intake portion of the channel; and,

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment having, at its inlet'channel. an overflow weir and a curved slide to accelerute the web.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a housing 17 closed at the top in a conventional manner, and at the bottom, a channel 5 which serves to receive a treatment liquid 2 and web 1. Rollers a guide the web on its travel to channel 5, in cooperation with directionchanging rollers b which lead to an enlarged inlet port 15 that, in the example shown, is funnel-shaped.

The treatment liquid is admitted through a tube 20 likewise at enlarged port 15 together with web 1. As shown in FIG. I, the front part of the channel has a uniform cross-section. The rear part illustrated in FIG. 2 has an increasing cross-section in the direction of flow. As may be seen from the drawing, the web assumes a crimped shape from its entrance into funnel l5, and traverses the entire channel length in a crimped shape to a point near the outlet of the channel. There, it is taken up and straigthened by roller 0, and passes out of the apparatus over roller d. The treatment liquid leaves the channel by an escape tube 31.

Extending into the channel from above, mechanical impellers 11 and 21, respectively are provided for imparting the necessary movement to liquid 2 and web 1 therein. The impellers are mounted in bearings 12 and 22, respectively, so as to be capable of a perpendicular as well as a tilting movement, thereby enhancing the flow of the liquid and the movement of the crimped web. In order to bring about a kneading action, the impellers and the liquid may be made to move toward each other. Means to that end are conventional and have been omitted from the drawing for the sake of clarity.

A further mixing system is shown in FIG. 1, which acts transversely. It comprises a number of stations partly arranged below, and above channel 5 and communicative therewith, each of the lower units consisting of a U-shaped tube 13 with a heater [6, while the upper elements 14 are designed as overflow tubes. Pumps 25 circulate the hot water. It is desirable to provide several such stations 13 and 14 distributed over the length of channel 5, spacing them first at smaller, then at larger intervals from each other. When the treatment is carried out with an aqueous boiling liquid, which is frequently the case, space 18 below the housing top is filled with steam.

FIG. 3 illustrates the intake portion of the channel in another embodiment. Also illustrated is the manner in which the liquid is guided into that portion. The funnelshaped inlet is connected by small slots or tubes 36 to a pipe 37, and over a circulating pump 27, which takes in fresh liquid from a pipe 28 in regulated amounts delivered through a valve 29. Liquid is conveyed over a pipe 32 to both sides of entering web 1 as shown at port 10. If desired, a direction-changing element 19, which may operate hydrodynamically, is provided in a portion 31 of the admission port.

In FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of the invention whereby web 41 to be treated passes over input rollers e, f, g, h and i, and is fed by drive rollers 43 into a curved, liquid slide 51 at the input of the bath.

A weir having a trough 44 permits treatment liquid from input pipe to flow over the crest of the weir and along curved slide 51. The liquid enters treatment bath 42 as the web begins to curl. The slide allows the web to travel at excess speed into the treatment bath.

The expression treatment of webs of textile and similar materials in hot liquids" should be understood to include cleaning treatments, treatments with chemicals in gtreatments for textiles; also after-treatments of dyed and printed textiles; treatment for development of bulk in textile webs, such as texturized fibers or yarns, or treatment in hot solvents for the removal of spinning oils, and the like. The irregular shape of the web means crimped or curly shape as contrasted to pleats, folds, loops and zig-zag pleats which must be avoided.

Finally, treatment agents" refer to known agents which are conventional, such as, for example, dyeing and bleaching.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Process for the continuous liquid treatment of a web of textile and like material, comprising the steps of:

a. continuously introducing said web and a stream of treating liquid into a liquid treating zone, maintaining a body of treating liquid in said zone, the depth of the body of liquid being progressively greater from the inlet end to the discharge end of said zone, said web being kept submerged in said liquid;

b. inducing convective and turbulent currents in said body of treating liquid in said zone to cause said web to move therethrough with a crimped or curly edge contour, thereby increasing the overall residence time of the web therein;

c. continuously moving said web and said treating liquid in the same direction through said zone at substantially the same overall speed to effect a continuous concentration balance and an even distribution of the treatment over the entire web area;

d. maintaining the weight ratio of treating liquid to the web under treatment in said zone in the range from about 10:1 to about 50:1;

e. the speed of movement of said web within said treating zone in convoluted form being substantially less than the entrance speed of the flat web;

f. the overall residence time of the web in the body of treating liquid being sufficient to effect uniform and thorough treatment of the web by means of constantly changing directions of the web exposed surfaces; and

g. continuously removing said web and used treating liquid from said treating zone.

2. The process of claim 1 in which said web and said treating liquid enter said treating zone simultaneously through a funnel-shaped inlet portion of said zone within which said crimping of said web by the movement of treating liquid in said zone is initiated, said portion being completely filled with liquid.

3. The process of claim 1 in which, in order to equalize the concentration of the treating liquid throughout the body of liquid and over the width of the path traveled by said web and to secure uniform distribution in the region of the web edges, portions of treating liquid are removed from outside the region of the web edges and recirculated to the top and/or bottom portions of said body of treating liquid.

4. The process of claim 1 in which the incoming web is contacted with a portion of treating liquid withdrawn from the inlet portion of said treating zone, prior to its entry into said treating zone, said liquid portion having substantially the same composition and properties as the freshly introduced stream of treating liquid.

5. The process of claim 1 in which, as the concentration of treating agent in the treating liquid decreases or approaches exhaustion with corresponding take-up by the web material, the depth of the region of treating liquid and immersed web is gradually increased and the speed of flow of treating liquid through the treating zone is correspondingly decreased.

6. The process of claim 1 in which the currents in step (b) are produced by mechanical or hydrodynamic 

1. PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS LIQUID TREATMENT OF A WEB OF TEXTILE AND LIKE MATERIAL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING SAID WEB AND A STREAM OF TREATING LIQUID INTO A LIQUID TREATING ZONE, MAINTAINING A BODY OF TREATING LIQUID IN SAID ZONE, THE DEPTH OF THE BODY OF LIQUID BEING PROGESSIVELY GREATER FROM THE INLET END TO THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID ZONE, SAID WEB BEING KEPT SUBMERGED IN SAID LIQUID; B. INCLUDING CONVECTIVE AND TURBULENT CURRENTS IN SAID BODY OF TREATING LIQUID IN SAID ZONE TO CAUSE SAID WEB TO MOVE THERETHROUGH WITH A CRIMPED OR CURLY EDGE CONTOUR THEREBY INCREASING THE OVERALL RESIDENCE TIME OF THE WEB THEREIN; C. CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID WEB AND SAID TREATING LIQUID IN THE SAME DIRECTION THROUGH SAID ZONE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OVERALL SPEED TO EFFECT A CONTINUOUS CONCENTRATION BALANCE AND AN EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF THE TREATMENT OVER THE ENTIRE WEB AREA; D. MAINTAINING THE WEIGHT RATIO OF TREATING LIQUID TO THE WEB UNDER TREATMENT IN SAID ZONE IN THE RANGE FROM ABOUT 10:1 TO ABOUT 50:1; E. THE SPEED OF MOVEMENT OF SAID WITHIN SAID TREATING ZONE IN CONVOLUTED FORM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE ENTRANCE SPEED OF THE FLAT WEB; F. THE OVERALL RESIDENCE TIME OF THE WEB IN THE BODY OF TREATING LIQUID BEING SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT UNIFORM AND THOROUGH TREATMENT OF THE WEB BY MEANS OF CONSTANTLY CHANGING DIRECTIONS OF THE WEB EXPOSED SURFACES; AND G. CONTINUOUSLY REMOVING SAID WEB AND USED TREATING LIQUID FROM SAID TREATING ZONE.
 2. The process of claim 1 in which said web and said treating liquid enter said treating zone simultaneously through a funnel-shaped inlet portion of said zone within which said crimping of said web by the movement of treating liquid in said zone is initiated, said portion being completely filled with liquid.
 3. The process of claim 1 in which, in order to equalize the concentration of the treating liquid throughout the body of liquid and over the width of the path traveled by said web and to secure uniform distribution in the region of the web edges, portions of treating liquid are removed from outside the region of the web edges and recirculated to the top and/or bottom portions of said body of treating liquid.
 4. The process of claim 1 in which the incoming web is contacted with a portion of treating liquid withdrawn from the inlet portion of said treating zone, prior to its entry into said treating zone, said liquid portion having substantially the same composition and properties as the freshly introduced stream of treating liquid.
 5. The process of claim 1 in which, as the concentration of treating agent in the treating liquid decreases or approaches exhaustion with corresponding take-up by the web material, the depth of the region of treating liquid and immersed web is gradually increased and the speed of flow of treating liquid through the treating zone is correspondingly decreased.
 6. The process of claim 1 in which the currents in step (b) are produced by mechanical or hydrodynamic action. 